South Los Angeles breast health promotion project

The aim of the South Los Angeles Breast Health Promotion Project was to evaluate a novel educational intervention to promote Positive Breast Health Behaviors (PBHB) among Latinas residing in south Los Angeles. The study was designed to: 1) test the efficacy of the educational intervention at enhancing breast health literacy and promoting PBHB at three and six months from baseline in the intervention group, 2) test the efficacy of the interview component as measured by self-reported PBHB at three months after baseline for the control group, and 3) test the instructional component as measured by self-reported PBHB in the control group six months after receiving the instructional component. The educational intervention was comprised of two components: an interview component (survey and focus group discussion) and an instructional component (animated video on breast cancer and breast self-exam).

The Breast Health Questionnaire (BHQ), described as having been tested psychometrically in Spanish was found to be inappropriate by bilingual doctors from three Latino subgroups. A new survey, the Breast Health Promotion Survey, was developed for this study and will be psychometrically tested. Videos on breast cancer were evaluated and considered offensive and embarrassing by women from six cultural groups. In response, an animated video on breast cancer was produced and found to be culturally appropriate, non-threatening and inoffensive.

Findings indicated that educational materials and instruments marketed as culturally appropriate must be evaluated before use in diverse populations. Labeling these materials as culturally and linguistically appropriate does not necessarily mean this is so.

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